"Guinomi City."

Merlin glanced at the strange ramparts of Guinomi City. There was a world of difference between this outlandish design and the other city-states in the Kingdom of Blackmoon.

Snake Elder had not caught up to them yet, but Merlin knew very well that it was not because Snake Elder could not keep up with their speed. Conversely, he was hanging back on purpose, maintaining a distance far behind. It was clear that he wanted to observe Merlin's capabilities without confronting the people of Guinomi City.

After all, those Spell Casters would recognize Snake Elder. If he recklessly showed himself, it might not bode well for the eighth prince.

"We'll go straight in. Anyone who is a Spell Caster must die!"

Merlin's expression was calm, but his voice revealed a cold hard edge that would make anyone tremble in fear.

"Swish! Swish!"

With that, Merlin and Bammou quickly flew into Guinomi City.

…

In the luxurious House of Counts, a banquet was going on, celebrating the sixtieth birthday of Count Guinomi. Guests came from different ranks of the aristocracy, and there were also some Spell Casters dressed in their finery.

"My Honorable Lord, Wizard Toblin has arrived!"

A pretty female guard dressed in silver armor said to Count Guinomi. There was not a single male guard in the entire banquet, only young pretty female guards with full figures.

This was one of Count Guinomi's greatest pleasures. He liked young pretty girls. Besides his guards, even the servants in his home, his carriage driver, and so on, consisted of beautiful maidens. Moreover, once these girls exceeded the age of twenty-five years, they would be fired by Count Guinomi.

For Count Guinomi, this lewd and depraved life was his daily existence. If a day went by without any woman, he would go mad. It was also due to this that Count Guinomi did not, in fact, have the people's support in Guinomi City. On the contrary, many Normies despised him to the core.

However, no one could do anything as Count Guinomi seemed to be well aware of this. He was smart enough to bring along powerful Spell Casters who secretly protected him. He was adept at winning over and recruiting roaming Wizards with powerful abilities, providing them with all they desired.

One of these was Wizard Toblin. This Fourth-level Spell Caster was cruel and vicious. For the sake of his research in alchemy, he had slaughtered over a hundred Normies, using various inhumane methods of experimentation on them.

He was even hunted down by some Spell Casters, but narrowly escaped to Guinomi City and was enlisted under Count Guinomi's command. He became Guinomi City's strongest Spell Caster, and also served as the count's right-hand man.

"Haha, quick, invite Wizard Toblin to come in!"

Count Guinomi quickly said to the guard.

Following that, Wizard Toblin, who was dressed in a black and gray robe, came into the hall and bowed slightly before Count Guinomi. "My Honorable Lord, I've arrived late today, but it was to prepare some potions. This potion would boost one's physique, and would even work well with Normies!"

As he spoke, Wizard Toblin brought out a small vial of black potion and handed it to Count Guinomi.

Count Guinomi's eyes brightened. Of course, he understood what Wizard Toblin meant when he said "boost one's physique". Count Guinomi was not a Spell Caster. He was only a normal Elemental Swordsman. His long years of a lewd and depraved existence had weakened his body. A large majority of the powerful Spell Casters he recruited were apothecaries who were skilled in brewing potions.

It was by relying on the potions frequently made by these Spell Casters that he was able to live on healthily until now.

"Haha, how considerate of you, Wizard Toblin. Please have a seat. I'll show everyone how it's done today at this banquet!"

Count Guinomi appeared to be in good spirits. After he accepted the potion, he consumed it impatiently with the help of a female guard.

After he had taken the potion, the eyes of Count Guinomi glazed over and he seemed to be completely at ease. Ignoring the presence of others, he pulled a tall and slim female guard who was standing beside him onto his lap.

The guard's face did not change as if this was not the first time something like this had happened. Yet, as she stared at Count Guinomi and Wizard Toblin, she could not conceal the glint of disgust and loathing in her eyes.

"Not bad, not bad. Wizard Toblin, your potions are getting better and better!"

Soon enough, Count Guinomi clapped his hands and stood up once more. His face, which was somewhat pale before, was now rosy-colored, and he was also in vigorous spirits. It was obviously the effects of the potion that he took.

Wizard Toblin gave a faint smile and was about to say something when he suddenly seemed to notice something.

"Wind Shackles!"

"Swish!"

In the split second that Wizard Toblin raised his hand, the female guard, who was initially meek and resigned next to Count Guinomi, suddenly drew out a white dagger and thrust it straight toward Count Guinomi.

"Slash!"

The female guard was quick, and the dagger viciously cut across Count Guinomi's chest. However, it was merely a scratch for the blade of the dagger only broke the skin of Count Guinomi's chest, after which a strong gust of Wind Element restricted the movements of the female guard.

This was the spell cast by Wizard Toblin, saving Count Guinomi's life once again.

The entire banquet became incomparably silent. Everyone stared at the sullen face of Count Guinomi in fear and dread. It was not the first time something like this had happened, but every time it did, it meant that some people in Guinomi City would be killed off by the heartless Count Guinomi.

"Damn it, Felinda, why did you try to kill me?"

Count Guinomi roared at the female guard in rage.

The female guard glared at Count Guinomi spitefully with a cold smile. "Heh, Count Guinomi, I've wanted to kill you long ago. Look at everyone around you. Is there no one who would not want to kill you? Fate is unkind – you're not dead yet. Haha, kill me then, at least I'll be free at last…"

Count Guinomi's chest was heaving unsteadily, and he appeared to be furious. He pointed at the female guard, and said darkly, "Heh heh, it's not that easy to die. However, your clan will suffer along with you for your foolish action! Go, capture everyone in Felinda's clan, and let no one go free!"

Many guards came in from the outside and ruthlessly dragged the female guard away.

"I'm willing to pay any price, and I pray for the devil to appear now and kill the heartless Guinomi, saving the entire Guinomi City…"

Her anguished cries echoed in the castle, but there was no devil in this world. Even if there was, no devil would be able to fulfill her wish.

"That's enough, carry on with the celebration!"

The female guard's expulsion from the banquet was only a small snag in the evening. Soon enough, Count Guinomi had recovered his good spirits and had summoned another pretty female guard, carrying on with the banquet within the castle.

"Bang!"

Just as the banquet had resumed its festivities, it was interrupted abruptly by a loud sound. Furthermore, this time, the large doors of the castle was shattered instantly. Solid rock pieces scattered everywhere and fell to the ground.

The aristocrats in the hall were frightened out of their wits and retreated to the back, their eyes fixed upon the doorway. There, two unfamiliar figures appeared, and one of them was holding onto the female guard who had been dragged out.

"I'm no devil, but I can fulfill your wish!"

The young man who held the female guard gave a strange smirk as he said softly to the female guard.

"Swoosh!"

As soon as the young man spoke, Wizard Toblin immediately stood up and appeared beside Count Guinomi in a flash. He said in a low voice, "My lord, these are powerful Spell Casters. You should withdraw for now."

Wizard Toblin was evidently able to perceive the threat that the two newcomers posed, and his face appeared very solemn.

Count Guinomi was somewhat distressed, but he remained relatively calm, having faith in Wizard Toblin's capabilities. Therefore, he gave a slight nod. "Wizard Toblin, you should be careful as well. I'll go and summon all the Spell Casters within the castle now. Humph, they dare to break into my castle. No matter who they are, they must pay a heavy price!"

With that, Count Guinomi began to evacuate from the castle under the protection of some guards and Spell Casters.

"Do you think you can leave?"

The calm gaze of the young man fixed upon Count Guinomi, his face full of mockery. Following that, he began to walk toward Count Guinomi step by step, in a leisurely manner.

"I don't know which Spell Caster you are, but I'm Wizard Toblin. Perhaps there's some misunderstanding between you and Count Guinomi. Whatever request you have, my lord will surely fulfill them…"

Wizard Toblin also walked forward a few steps and stood in front of Count Guinomi. His comfortable life in Guinomi City was inseparable from Count Guinomi's trust in him.

Thus, no matter what, he would first need to ensure that Count Guinomi would live.

"Toblin… That's right, you'll be the first to die. Remember my name – Wilson Merlin!"

This young man was Merlin who had hurried from Taran City to Guinomi City. Realizing that the Spell Caster before him was Toblin, the smile tugging at his lips turned icy.

During Merlin's investigation, he discovered that Wizard Toblin of Guinomi City was one of those who went to Wilson Castle back then. If Snake Elder and the rest, who were sent by His Royal Highness the eighth prince, had not made it in time, Wilson Castle might no longer exist.

"Merlin? Merlin of the Dark Magic Region? So, it's you… So, what if you've come back?"

Upon hearing that the young Spell Caster before him was Merlin, Wizard Toblin's eyes flashed with a malicious light. He knew that Merlin, having come all the way back, would not just let the matter rest.

Perhaps it would be troublesome to kill Merlin, but not killing him would lead to even greater trouble. Therefore, even if Toblin was apprehensive about the Dark Magic Region's retaliation, he would not hesitate now that Merlin had come here.

"Boom!"

A violent gale whistled as it swept toward Merlin. This was a Fourth-level spell which was strong enough to crush any defensive powers into dust.

Merlin could not even be bothered to look at the blustering gale. Instead, he extended a hand, pressing forward slightly with his fingers.

"Fiery Collapse!"

The white flames began burning furiously right away. Any defensive forces in the path of these flames were swept aside. Wizard Toblin did not even have time to cast a spell before his body was engulfed in the white flames.

The blaze vanished quickly, but Wizard Toblin's figure had also completely disappeared without a trace. Wizard Toblin, whom Count Guinomi had seen as his support, who was a powerful Fourth-level Spell Caster, could not even withstand one attack from Merlin.

"As for all of you… Die as well!"

Merlin looked toward the aristocrats in the hall. Everything these people did filled Merlin with loathing. He was not someone who would kill Normies but Count Guinomi's behavior earlier had disgusted him to the core, and there was a tyrannical mood within him that he needed to unleash.

"Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!"

Endless flames flew from Merlin and swallowed the entire castle. Regardless of whether they were aristocrats or Spell Casters, they were rapidly turned to ashes upon the lightest touch of the white flames.

There were no pitiful cries, no stench of blood, and there was not even an atmosphere of chaos and disorder. Yet anyone who witnessed this scene with their own eyes would feel a throbbing in their chest.

Even the female guard, who had earlier descended into despair and did not hesitate to pray for the "devil", could only stare blankly at the raging flames before her eyes without uttering a word.

"Wizard Merlin, stop this right now!"

At this moment, a rather anxious voice rang in Merlin's ear.